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Looking to invest in new wood floors but don’t know what is the right type for you? We can all agree that wood floors are a great asset to your new or existing space. They are super easy to clean and some even last a lifetime. If you are looking for a change or remodeling your new space we have the right guide for you. This guide will help you understand the different flooring options of wood or authentic “real wood” grains to help you make the right decision.

Hard surface flooring comes in many types, colors, and sizes. There are so many species and categories out there to choose form. Some of the most common ones are hardwood, engineered and resilient.

Solid hardwood flooring is a piece of wood that is 100% wood and usually ranges up to 3/4″ of an inch in thickness. Since solid hardwood is wood all the way through it allows you to sand it down over time and refinish it to give it new life. The life span of solid hardwood floors can usually range over 30 years.

Engineered Wood usually consists of parts, a wear layer and a core. The top layer(s) are 100% wood where you will walk on and the bottom core is made of high-quality plywood. This floor has different forms of installation. It can be nailed down, stapled, glued down or even floating. Because engineered wood consists of multi-layers it is more resistant in moisture areas then hardwood and it is less likely to expand and contract. Also, just like hardwood, engineered wood can be sanded down based on the thickness of the wear layer.

Resilient flooring is one category that continues to grow over the years. It has many patterns, thicknesses and it is available in planks and tiles hence the acronym LVT/LVP (Luxury Vinyl Planks/Tiles). Within this category, there are several materials that make up the product such as wood-plastic composite(WPC) and stone plastic core(SPC). Resilient flooring is commonly used in residential, light commercial and commercial spaces, depending on the category. Some resilient floors are even waterproof or water-resistant.

Something to take into account when choosing your floor is what lifestyle you live. Whether you are on the go, have a big family or have pets. There are many species to choose from some of the most common ones are Birch, Walnut, Pine, Cherry, and Oak. The higher the hardness rating on the wood the longer it will last.

You can choose between finished, stains and textures that will help accomplish the look that you want for your space. For smaller spaces, we recommend a lighter stain such as the ones below. For a classic look, dark floors are the way to go. For finishes, you have options like glossy, matte and satin. In today’s fashion, it is recommended to have a more natural look rather than glossy. If you like a bit of shine on your floors we usually design something with more satin to avoid looking like a high school gym. On the other hand, if you are all in for a natural look, a matte finish will help you accomplish a clean and contemporary quality. The final step in style is the finish, this step is left to preference. In terms of options, there are usually four common ways to go, you have smooth, hand textured, wire-brushed and distressed wood. Smooth wood is just as its described smooth, and then you can layer the texture all the way up to distressed wood which has the most character, see some recommendations below.